Show case

ABSTRACT

Provided is a showcase for displaying foods, and more particularly, an open-type showcase including a separate storage chamber installed in the showcase, isolatable from the exterior, and continuously receiving cold air through a cold air passage, similar to a display chamber, and capable of simply moving foods which can easily go bad, such as sandwiches or breads, displayed in the showcase, to the storage chamber and keeping the foods refrigerated after business hours, and blocking supply of the cold air into the display chamber when the display chamber is not used. 
     The showcase includes a body having a display chamber disposed at an upper part thereof and cold air passages connected to the display chamber at both front and rear sides of the interior thereof, and a cold air circulation fan for supplying and circulating cold air generated by a cold air generator to the display chamber along the cold air passages, wherein a storage chamber connected to the front and rear cold air passages is provided in the body to be opened and closed by a door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a showcase for displaying foods, and more particularly, to an open-type showcase including a separate storage chamber installed in the showcase, isolatable from the exterior, and continuously receiving cold air through a cold air passage, similar to a display chamber, and capable of simply moving foods which can easily go bad, such as sandwiches or breads, displayed in the showcase, to the storage chamber and keeping the foods refrigerated after business hours, and blocking supply of the cold air into the display chamber when the display chamber is not used.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In general, showcases are installed at franchise shops, discount stores, department stores, etc., to display and illuminate goods to attract attention from consumers, provide pleasant purchase environments and maintain fresh foods.

In recent times, in order to show open views of shops and help consumers readily choose goods, open-type and canopy-less type showcases are being widely used.

However, since it is difficult for the open-type showcase to uniformly maintain a temperature sufficient for refrigeration due to discharge of some cold air to the exterior during use thereof causing excessive power consumption, energy efficiency of the open-type showcase is lower than that of the closed-type showcase. In addition, in order to prevent intrusion of foreign substances such as dusts into displayed goods after business hours of a shop, the display chamber must be covered with a separate cover or cloth.

In particular, when the displayed goods are foods that can easily go bad and have a short period of circulation, for example, sandwiches, breads, etc., in order to maintain freshness of the foods for a long time, the foods must be moved to and stored in a separate refrigeration apparatus after business hours. Further, since the separate refrigeration apparatus must be additionally installed, space efficiency of the shop is decreased.

Therefore, high energy efficiency, space efficiency and convenience of use of the open-type showcase are in urgent need of attention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a showcase including a separate storage chamber capable of stably maintaining freshness of foods for an extended period of time.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a showcase capable of maximizing energy efficiency.

The present invention provides a showcase including: a body having a display chamber disposed at an upper part thereof and cold air passages connected to the display chamber at both front and rear sides of the interior thereof; and a cold air circulation fan for supplying and circulating cold air generated by a cold air generator to the display chamber along the cold air passages, wherein a storage chamber connected to the front and rear cold air passages is provided in the body to be opened and closed by a door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a showcase in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic side cross-sectional views of the showcase in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a switching plate in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side cross-sectional views showing operation states of the showcase in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a showcase in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, terms used herein are defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and therefore, the terms will be construed as concepts corresponding to the sprit of the present invention and conventional meanings.

In addition, if already known functions or specific description of constitution related to the present invention may make the sprit of the present invention unclear, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a showcase in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic side cross-sectional views of the showcase in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2B, the showcase in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a body 100 having a display chamber 200 disposed at an upper part thereof, and a storage chamber 300 installed in the body 100, isolated from the exterior, and receiving cold air through front and rear cold air passages 110 and 120 connected to the display chamber 200. A door 350 is installed in the front of the body 100 to open and close the storage chamber 300, and a switching plate 210 is installed to allow a user to selectively block cold air supplied through the front and rear cold air passages 110 and 120 in the display chamber 200.

The body 100 and the door 350 are formed of inner and outer steel plates with an insulating material disposed therebetween to prevent heat between the steel plates from being discharged. The display chamber 200 is provided at the upper part of the body 100 to display foods such as sandwiches or breads.

In addition, sidewalls of the display chamber 200 are formed of a transparent material so that consumers can clearly see the foods in detail, and an upper surface of the display chamber 200 is opened to rapidly insert or remove the foods thereinto/therefrom.

Further, while not shown, the body 100 may include a general thermostat for transmitting power for cold air circulation and maintaining the temperature and humidity in the display chamber 200 and the storage chamber 300 within a range set by a user, and a defroster for removing frost through operation of a defrosting heater, which are installed at a lower part of the body 100.

The front and rear cold air passages 110 and 120 are disposed between the body 100 and the storage chamber 300 to simultaneously guide cold air generated from a cold air generator 1 into the display chamber 200 and the storage chamber 300. The switching plate 210 is installed at ends of the front and rear cold air passages 110 and 120 to allow a user to selectively block the cold air supplied into the display chamber 200.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the switching plate 210 may include a base plate 211 having a plurality of through-holes 212 formed therein, and a slider plate 213 having a shape corresponding to the base plate 211 and slidably installed on the base plate 211.

In addition, a handle 220 is mounted on an upper surface of the slider plate 213 to stably grip the slider plate 213 and more rapidly and easily slide the slider plate 213.

The switching plate 210 conveniently performs opening and closing operations of the front and rear cold air passages 110 and 120 toward the display chamber 200 by alternately positioning or correspondingly disposing the through-holes 212 and 214 respectively formed in the base plate 211 and the slider plate 213 in a movement direction of the slider plate 213.

The front cold air passage 110 is divided into upper and lower cold air passages 111 and 113, and a partition cold air passage 112. The partition cold air passage 112 is integrally formed on an inner side of the door 350, and facing surfaces of the cold air passage 111 and the partition cold air passage 112 are inclined upward toward the door 350 to smoothly pass the cold air therebetween.

Further, facing surfaces of the partition cold air passages 112 and the lower cold air passage 113 are formed to smoothly pass the cold air therebetween.

The storage chamber 300 is a space for receiving various foods and divided into a plurality of chambers isolated from the exterior. The door 350 is installed in the front of each storage chamber 300 to be stably opened and closed by the body 100 and a support link 160.

Furthermore, a shelf 310 is installed in each storage chamber 300 to be slid and drawn in a direction of the door through slide movement of rollers and rails.

The shelf 310 is configured to readily take out the foods disposed thereon from the storage chamber 300 and insert the food into a deep place of the storage chamber 300 with no interference.

A plurality of cold air introduction holes 320 are formed in a rear wall of the storage chamber 300 to be connected to the rear cold air passage 120, and a guide wall 330 is installed in the rear cold air passage 120 having the cold air introduction holes 320 to more smoothly introduce some of the cold air moving along the rear cold air passage 120 into the storage chamber 300 through the cold air introduction hole 320.

A general cold air generator 1 and a general cold air circulation fan 5 are installed under the storage chamber 300. The cold air generator 1 includes a compressor 2 for compressing coolant to high temperature and high pressure coolant, a condenser 3 for condensing the coolant compressed in the compressor 2, and an evaporator 4 for evaporating the condensed coolant to generate cold air. The cold air circulation fan 5 forcedly blows, sucks and circulates the cold air generated by the cold air generator 1 along the front and rear cold air passages 110 and 120.

In addition, while not shown, a drain hose and a water tub may be installed at a lower part of the storage chamber 300 to receive and store water droplets generated in the cold air generator 1, and a water level detection sensor may be installed in the water tub to detect a water level.

Operation of the showcase in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, cold air generated by a cooling cycle of the cold air generator 1 forcedly moves along the rear cold air passage 120 by the cold air circulation fan 5. Some of the cold air enters the storage chamber 300 through the cold air introduction holes 320 formed in the rear wall of the storage chamber 300 by guidance of the guide wall 330, and the remaining cold air continuously moves upward to pass through the switching plate 210 and is then blown into the display chamber 200. Next, the cold air passed through the display chamber 200 and the storage chamber 300 is sucked again into the cold air generator 1 along the front cold air passage 110 by a strong suction force of the cold air circulation fan 5. This circulation of the cold air is repeated to stably maintain the temperature in the display chamber 200 and the storage chamber 300.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the business hours of a shop have ended, foods displayed in the display chamber 200 are moved into the storage chamber 300. Then, when the through-holes 214 of the slider plate 213 and the through-holes 212 of the base plate 211 are alternated, the cold air is supplied only into the storage chamber 300 through the cold air introduction hole 320, and the cold air passed through the storage chamber 300 is sucked again along the partition cold air passage 112 by a suction force of the cold air circulation fan 5. At this time, since the upper surface of the partition cold air passage 112 is inclined upward toward the door 350 and spaced apart from the upper cold air passage 111, the cold air can be more smoothly sucked into the cold air circulation fan 5.

Therefore, the temperature in the storage chamber 300 can be stably maintained through continuous circulation of the cold air.

The showcase in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can simultaneously supply cold air into the display chamber 200 and the storage chamber 300 through the front and rear cold air passages 110 and 120, and can block the cold air supplied into the display chamber 200 through switching operation of the switching plate 210.

As a result, since loss of the cold air can be minimized, it is possible to reduce power consumption of the showcase and remarkably improve energy efficiency and convenience of use.

As can be seen from the foregoing, since a display chamber and a storage chamber are provided to simultaneously receive cold air through a single cold air passage, it is possible to readily move foods displayed in the display chamber to the storage chamber and refrigerate them after business hours of a shop, and to refrigerate other foods on standby for display at all times. Therefore, freshness of foods that can easily go bad, for example, sandwiches or breads, can be stably maintained for a long time.

In addition, since a switching plate is installed at an end of the cold air passage to allow a user to selectively block cold air supplied into the display chamber, it is possible to prevent supply of unnecessary cold air into the display chamber after moving the display foods into the storage chamber. Therefore, power consumption of the showcase can be minimized to increase energy efficiency.

Further, since a shelf is installed in the storage chamber to be slidably drawn in a direction of the door, various foods can be readily accommodated and stored, and the stored foods can be conveniently drawn to be re-displayed.

While this invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains that various modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A showcase comprising: a body having a display chamber disposed at an upper part thereof and cold air passages connected to the display chamber at both front and rear sides of the interior thereof; and a cold air circulation fan for supplying and circulating cold air generated by a cold air generator to the display chamber along the cold air passages, wherein a storage chamber connected to the front and rear cold air passages is provided in the body to be opened and closed by a door.
 2. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein switching plates are installed at the front and rear cold air passages to block the cold air supplied into the display chamber.
 3. The showcase according to claim 2, wherein the switching plate comprises: a base plate having a plurality of through-holes formed therein; and a slider plate having a shape corresponding to the base plate to open and close the through-holes of the base plate.
 4. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the storage chamber has a shelf slidable in a direction of the door.
 5. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the front cold air passage is divided into upper and lower cold air passages, and a partition cold air passage disposed therebetween, the partition cold air passage is integrally formed on an inner side of the door, and facing surfaces of the upper cold air passage and the partition cold air passage are inclined upward toward the door.
 6. The showcase according to claim 2, wherein the storage chamber has a shelf slidable in a direction of the door.
 7. The showcase according to claim 2, wherein the front cold air passage is divided into upper and lower cold air passages, and a partition cold air passage idsposed therebetween, the partition cold air passage is integrally formed on an inner side of the door, and facing surfaces of the upper cold air passage and the partition cold air passage are inclined upward toward the door. 